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On December 29, 1994, the US informed the 4,400 Haitians at Guantanamo that they would have to return to Haiti, and that those agreeing to return by January 5 would receive an $80 payment. Only 677 Haitians--about 1 in 6--accepted the offer.

On January 5, the US began to return the 3,900 Haitians who had rejected the payment offer. Upon their arrival in Haiti, the first 54 were given $15 and taken to the Port-au-Prince bus station.

Several US immigration advocates criticized the return of Haitians, arguing that the US has neither the legal or moral right to return Haitians. The US and Haiti signed an agreement in 1981 that permitted the US to intercept on the high seas and return to Haiti Haitians seeking to go to the US by boat; that agreement expired in 1994.

Since President Aristide was restored to power October 15, 1994, over 16,000 of the 21,400 Haitians in Guantanamo in August 1994 have returned to Haiti.

In Panama, officials report that 31 mostly young male Cubans have tried to commit suicide as is becomes clearer that they will not be allowed directly into the US. There are about 8,600 Cubans in Panama who will be sent to join the 21,000 Cubans in Guantanamo before the Panama base is closed on March 6. About 3,000 Cubans have been admitted to the US from the Panama and Guantanamo camps for family or health reasons, and officials are worried that Cubans may try to feign mental illness to gain admission to the US.


Eric Schmitt, "Suicide Attempts on the Rise among Cuban refugees," New York Times, January 23, 1995, A3; Larry Rohter, "US Starts Forced Return of 4000 Haitian Refugees," New York Times, January 7, 1995, A3. Elaine Scilino, "US Tells Haitians Held at Guantanamo They Must Go Home, New York Times, December 30, 1994, A3.